Thompson Von Tungeln

by Sonia C. Lee, Esq. Partner

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate not only love for spouses and significant others, but family and friends in general. Isn't love about relationships and relationships about caring for one another? While you may have a well designed and up-to-date estate plan, how about your adult kids, siblings and other loved ones? 

Estate Planning Is For The Living

Many people think estate planning is like a will or probate. How many of us have heard someone say “What do I care? I'll be dead!” Incorrect! In actuality, while proper estate planning will help you avoid the potential nightmare of probate and help ensure that your loved ones are protected and provided for, proper estate planning is arguably more important for the living!

The vast majority of Americans will suffer at least one health-related incident where they will not be able to speak or act for themselves before death. Whether it is incapacity due to accident, stroke, dementia or something else, do you have a clear written, enforceable and actionable plan for those you trust to care for you, your loved ones and your estate?

Being Unprepared Can Have Serious Consequences

Being unprepared can have serious consequences. How will you refinance your mortgage or sell your home if your spouse lacks the capacity to consent and execute documents? How will you ensure that doctors provide health information to the right people? Who will authorize the right treatment or medical procedure? How will someone access your bank accounts, insurance policies and investments? State law versus federal law? Do you know going to court to get this permission will likely be much more expensive than an expertly designed and drafted estate plan? 

Free Estate Plan Reviews and Seminars

With ever-changing laws and a surge in identity fraud and home title theft, an effective, custom-tailored and current estate plan to take care of you today has never been more important. Call us at (661) 945-5868 to make your appointment today to review an existing trust or to attend one of our upcoming free estate planning seminars. There is no charge for your review meeting and, should we recommend any updates or changes that make sense for you, we will quote you a fee for those changes at that time it is entirely up to you whether or not you wish to proceed.

Happy Valentines Day!